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Abstract The discovery of rich, well preserved skull material in the latest Middle Pleistocene deposits of Mishin Kamik cave (N-W Bulgaria) presents an opportunity for a new analysis of the taxonomy and the phylogeny of the so called “small cave bears”. Not all the small cave bears known would have necessarily had a common origin, the size decrease could be related in a number of cases to a parallelism. The bear from Mishin Kamik is identical with “Ursus rossicus” Borissiak from Krasnodar (S. Russia). Both these samples must be referred to U. savini Andrews from Bacton near Cromer (England). The specimens from Krasnodar and Mishin Kamik could be classified as U. sa. rossicus, a late form of the species. This species may have affinities with some Middle Pleistocene Siberian forms. U. savini is a small but very robust spelaeoid bear which is more advanced in a number of features than U. deningeri. In several aspects it attained the evolutional adaptations of the cave bears of the U. spelaeus-U. ingressus group and represents an independent lineage of spelaeoid bears. The Mishin Kamik population was adapted to a mosaic landscape of forests and open areas in hilly terrain. This bear had well developed grazing adaptations but had weak motor abilities.

Bulgaria encompasses most of the Balkan migratory corridor (part of the so-called Danubian corridor) which facilitated the dispersal of mammals and Homo populations into and out of Europe. In spite of the scarcity of human fossil remains, the rich evidence of more than 20 Palaeolithic sites in Bulgaria suggests long-term human presence and various activities. Northwestern Bulgaria is known for the massive karstic formations in the area around the present-day town of Belogradchik. Three important Palaeolithic settlements have been excavated there, namely the caves of Kozarnika, Magura and Mishin Kamik. This paper presents the results of five short but intensive excavation campaigns in Mishin Kamik Cave. No human fossil remains or lithic artefacts have been recovered. However, the excavations produced several bone artefacts and a number of intriguing features, including an apparently intentional arrangement of bear skulls, which suggest the cave was visited by humans at the end of the Middle Pleistocene.

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